NACOGDOCHES, Texas - When Dr. Mark Turner set out to put together a ballet at the request of a colleague, he wanted to create a big production with student performers in mind. He wanted something challenging, a body of music that would break up the endless cycle of Nutcracker Suite performances young student musicians inevitably play each year. So the Stephen F. Austin State University associate professor of elementary and early childhood music education turned to a folk tale from his native Alaska.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - High school students interested in pursuing a career in law are invited to attend Stephen F. Austin State University's first-ever Pre-Law Experience set for June 8-14 in Nacogdoches.

The week-long program is open to high school juniors and seniors and is unique in the state of Texas, according to Dr. Brian Murphy, dean of SFA's College of Liberal and Applied Arts.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present the Haefner-Mitchell Harp Duo in a guest/faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 4, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus as part of the Cole Performing Arts Series.

The duo features Dr. Jaymee Haefner, harp senior lecturer at the University of North Texas, Denton, and Emily Mitchell, harp instructor at SFA. Joining them for a portion of the performance will be soprano Bryn Aratyr Jimenez of Houston.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - SFJAZZ Collective, an award-winning jazz ensemble, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

The group's appearance in Nacogdoches is a feature of the SFA College of Fine Arts' University Series, "Live Out Loud."

An unidentified Neches River paddler stands on the bank near his kayak. Photo by Adrian F. Van Dellen

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The serpentine length of the Neches River, which winds its way over hundreds of miles from East Texas' Van Zandt County to the Gulf Coast, has been documented for the first time in a new book published by the Stephen F. Austin State University Press.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Misha Quint, an internationally known cellist and chamber music collaborator, will present a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus as part of the Cole Performing Arts Series.

Russian-born cellist Quint "captivates his audiences with his lyricism, passion and dazzling technique," according to Evgeni Raychev, cellist and SFA music faculty member.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - For anyone who appreciates music and would like to help young students enrolled in the Music Preparatory program of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music fulfill their dreams of becoming accomplished musicians, a special opportunity awaits.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music voice faculty member Jamie Dahman will present his first recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 31, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Accompanied by Ron Petti, SFA pianist, Dahman's performance will feature "An die ferne Geliebte" by Ludwig van Beethoven, which is "considered to be the first song-cycle, a category important in the Art Song genre," Dahman said, along with "Poeme d'avril" by Jules Massenet.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present the Duo Karudan in a concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 30, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Duo Karudan features Christopher Ayer, professor of clarinet at SFA, and his wife, Kae Hosoda-Ayer, assistant professor of piano at Baylor University. Joining them will be SFA music faculty members Jennifer Dalmas, violin; Nathan Nabb, saxophone; and Charles Gavin, horn.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Grammy Award-winning Texas-born singer, composer and actor Lyle Lovett will be the featured guest at the 2014 installment of the Archie McDonald Speaker Series at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Lovett has broadened the definition of Americana music in a career that spans 14 albums and more than four million records sold. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a manner that defies convention and breaks down barriers.